Detectives said they did not believe the two attempted murders were linked but added both appeared to be targeted attacks.

Cops were last night investigating brutal murder bids which left two young men in hospital.

In one of the vicious attacks, a teenager was knifed repeatedly in the chest in front of his terrified girlfriend.

The incident took place in Knockhill Road, Renfrew, at around 4am on Saturday as the 19-year-old victim and his partner walked home after a night out.

Hours earlier, a 26-year-old man was found bleeding in the street by a taxi driver, in Lomond Gardens, Elderslie, after being stabbed several times in the upper body.

The attack took place at around 11.35pm on Friday in a usually quiet residential area.

Detectives last night said they did not believe the two attempted murders were linked but added that both appeared to be targeted attacks.

Detective Inspector David Wagstaff appealed for witnesses to come forward to help police trace those responsible.

He said: “We are treating both incidents as attempted murders.

“At this stage we don’t believe these incidents are linked in any way but both individuals appear to have been targeted, so I would like to reassure the public that these do not appear to be attacks at random.

“We do not have any descriptions of an attacker or attackers at the first incident in Johnstone, so we are very keen to hear from anyone who might have been in the area at the time and may have seen anything.

“As for the Renfrew attack, a witness described a man in a grey hooded top who we would like to speak to in connection with the incident.”

Last night, both men were being treated at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital, where their conditions were said to be stable.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.